The Rifffs – Whole Lot of Nothing
I’m thrilled that they’re back again…even if it is with a whole lot of nothing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cOzhW2KP9M
Nadine Axisa – Light Me Up
I would have liked to hear more tracks in Maltese on Nadine Axisa’s jazz album Velvet, which was released just a few days ago. The production on this album is quite good and she’s an excellent singer. Hopefully her next album will feature more songs in Maltese, whether its jazz or not, at a level of production featuring top level Maltese musicians as this one.
TroffaHamra y los mechones – Donde estás tú
After featuring Ruth Abela in the previous edition of the MMI podcast, it’s now time to preview her band’s second album, which is officially released on 27 March 2014. Todo es más bonito is the title of the album and it’s already available through Bandcamp. The track I’ve selected to play is sung in both Maltese and Spanish, making for a rather unusual offering. It’s quite pleasant.
Lejla Maltija – Il-Pjazzetta Baħħ
After 15 years based in Poland, Maltese-born Mario Cordina has embarked on a project exploring some of the Maltese sounds and traditions of his fore-bearers. The result is utterly delicious and here’s a sample from it. More to come in future editions of the MMI podcast…you can be sure of that!
Ruth Abela – Il-Festa
One of the classic Maltese pop songs written by Charles Camilleri and Joe Friggieri over 40 years ago gets a bossa nova arrangement in this new version by Ruth Abela, who is also known as TroffaĦamra. Along with her Spain-based band Los Mechones she is about to release an album of original material soon, but I really hope she has more of this stuff up her sleeve too. It’s simply delightful.
Edward Abela – A Waltz in the Shadows
I discovered this guy on Soundcloud a few weeks ago and have been wanting to play one of his tracks on my podcast since then. This waltz is really haunting and I’m rather keen to hear more from this young Maltese musician based in North London.
Mistura – Misraħ il-Ħelsien
This podcast’s original release coincides with the 2014 Malta Carnival, so I thought it was most appropriate to play this track in memory of a space synonymous with carnival for all the wrong reasons.
Red Tower – Afterall
Filmmaker and theatre producer Mario Azzopardi alerted me to this UK-based band, which features his niece Natassja Saliba as the lead singer. I like melodic hard rock (who doesn’t?) and I’m quite impressed by the music video that comes with this title track from their EP, which was apparently shot on iPhone. Perhaps this will prompt a live gig in Malta. They’d be a perfect guest at one of those metal annual festivals that take place on the rock.
Relicuia – Lord of Chaos
From the ashes of Angelcrypt comes this new band, who released a demo EP last year, which somehow didn’t make it to my list of nominations on the 2013 MMI Listeners’ Picks Poll. Well, that certainly needs to be remedied and this is the first step towards that. Having said that though, I think they may be releasing new material this year anyway.
Spinesplitter Studio feat. Melchior Borg – Vile Dissonance
Spine Splitter Studio appears to be an experimental project by Maltese metal musician David Depasquale. In this particular track he collaborates with his fellow Abysmal Torment bandmate Melchior Borg.
Thy Legion – Bloodspill
Taken from their forthcoming album World Stigmata and featuring some of the heaviest growling you’ll hear on the weekly MMI podcast. I think this band have come a long way since their Aim High debut some years ago. It looks like they are indeed aiming high these days.
